Isabella Banuelos and Queso Cat Push Through Injury to Win National Circuit Championship

At just 13 years old, Isabella Banuelos earned the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Junior Youth National Circuit Championship title Sunday, April 14, 2024 in the Watt Arena at Will Rogers Memorial Center riding Queso Cat (High Brow Cat x Rey Ja Vu x Dual Rey). Scoring two-and-a-half points higher than second place, the team marked a 216.5 in the finals.

A genuine, gritty cowgirl, Banuelos pushed through a softball injury she suffered two days before the show. Despite her ankle sprain, she made it work and trusted her horse to do his job.

“I showed at the Super Stakes, and then, I went home to go to school. While I was home, I had a softball game and sprained my ankle, so it was up in the air if I was actually going to come or not. I ended up coming and just had to take it slow. One of the guys that works for us, Gama, lent me his boot to wear since mine wouldn’t fit the injured ankle. Then, I just went and showed,” Banuelos said. “I always get nervous, but when I’m almost to the herd, all my nerves kind of go away. With the help of my dad, my two cousins and my uncle, they helped me pick my cows; and my horse did the rest. I thought it felt pretty good, but I was just glad that we made it through the run with my ankle and that everything went well.”

A 10-year-old chestnut gelding, Queso Cat gives Banuelos confidence and helped her earn her first ever trophy saddle with this win. A horse with deep ties to her family, Banuelo’s grandmother showed Queso Cat’s granddam, and her parents showed the gelding’s dam.

“He’s really my mom’s horse, and she shows him a lot; so I’ll just show him at bigger shows. The first time I showed him was actually in the Watt Arena for the scholarship cutting, and I’ve shown him here and there ever since,” Banuelos said. “He was born and raised on our ranch, so I was familiar with him when I walked in the arena, and we just did it.”

Anyone in the cutting horse world knows the Banuelos name, and the 13-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada is thankful for her support system making it possible for her to find her place in the industry.

“I couldn’t have done it without my grandparents, my parents, Adan, Jesse and my uncle Ascension. I am so grateful for their help, but most of all, I couldn’t have done it without the help of God keeping me and my horse safe,” Banuelos said. “I think my biggest accomplishment personally is being reserve in the Intermediate at the Futurity and the Non Pro, so this is right up there with that, and it being my first saddle to win was really special.”

Out of eight young competitors and their horses in the finals, Trystan Crow and Royally Metallic (Metallic Cat x Royal Red Rosita x Smart Little Lena) finished behind Banuelos with 214 points. Coming in third, Abbie Daniel earned 213 points aboard Catalena Spotlight (Spots Hot x Catalena Lights x High Brow Cat).